Grandparents holding toddler, staring into the distance in the sunlight

National Make-A-Will Month

Join thousands of others who are creating their bold legacies this month!

August is National Make-A-Will Month, a time dedicated to the important task of planning for the future. At the American Heart Association, our future is about improving yours! Over our 100-year history, we’ve saved and improved countless lives with the help of generous volunteers, collaborating organizations, and supporters like you. Now we want to help you protect what matters most.

Did you know that only one-third of Americans currently have a will?

Without a will in place, state law dictates who gets your house, savings and other assets instead of letting you provide the direction of your final wishes. A will is important for everyone and can be useful regardless of the size of your estate. A will allows you to:

  • Enjoy peace of mind by eliminating uncertainty with the comfort of knowing that your affairs are in order.
  • Protect your loved ones by ensuring that your assets will be distributed according to your wishes.
  • Establish a legacy by remembering the causes you hold close to your heart in your plans.

Make-A-Will Month isn’t just about planning for yourself but also envisioning a brighter future for everyone. We’re celebrating our milestone of a century of lifesaving impact all year long, and this month we invite you to help secure a bold future where everyone, everywhere can live a longer, healthier life. Your will can be a powerful tool for change, ensuring that the fight against heart disease and stroke continues for the next century and beyond.

Bold legacies begin with you!

A gift through your will to the American Heart Association will help us to continue to advance our progress and help save more lives in our Second Century of impact. By planning now, you can ensure a bold life today and a healthier tomorrow for countless lives.

Darryl Griffin and four family members posing together outside for a selfie

“Being an example for my children and for my family is very important, to spark that flame in them, but also to recognize the organization that has been really critical to me in so many different ways. I’m having the conversation with my children because it’s planning that seed of legacy and continued impact, the fact that you can do something very positive in life and in death.”

– Darryl Griffin, Paul Dudley White Legacy Society member

Make-A-Will Month Resources

If you’re wondering where to start or need to update your plans, we can help! Browse a variety of free tools and resources to help you plan with heart.

Planning Guides

Legacy of the Heart and Meet the Moment, thumbnail images

Let us send you complimentary guides designed to help you plan your legacy.

Legacy of the Heart: Your Will and Estate Planning Workbook includes 15 worksheets to help you organize your intentions and your assets. (Available in English and Spanish.)

Meet the Moment: A Woman’s Guide to Planning a Secure Future is an interactive planning guide designed to help every woman design a prosperous future.

Gift Planning Solutions

thumbnail image of three brochures: Will Bequest, Beneficiary Designations, and Charitable Trusts

Learn more about different ways you can create a legacy with your estate plan. Download free one-page guides to help you make your plans.

  • Charitable Bequest (English/Spanish)

  • Charitable Trusts (English/Spanish)

  • Beneficiary Designations (English/Spanish)

Make Your Bold Legacy Today

Family of three facing into the sunset holding hands up in heart shapes above their heads

Ready to secure your future today? Through our online platform powered by FreeWill, you can create a free, valid will or trust in as little as 20 minutes.

You can also create a legacy by naming us a beneficiary of a retirement plan or life insurance policy that you no longer need. With the help of our online tool, you can plan all of your beneficiaries in one place at no cost.

Heidi Roth

“I believe in the American Heart Association because of its science and how the organization is bettering people’s lives. With my family history of heart disease and stroke, I wanted to help find a way to cure it. This is my legacy and I want to inspire others.”

– Heidi Roth, Cor Vitae Society and Paul Dudley White Legacy Society member

Lindsay Brooks-Shriver

“Each person in my family that has heart disease has a different form of heart disease - no two are alike,” Lindsay said. “Heart disease also caused my sister to have a stroke. While the AHA has led the way for many advances, there is still so much we don't know. I hope my gifts pave the way for future advancements.”

– Lindsay Brooks-Shriver, Paul Dudley White Legacy Society member

Paul Dudley White Legacy Society

When you make a gift through your will, trust, or another type of estate plan, you become a member of the Paul Dudley White Legacy Society. This special community shares the values of Dr. White, one of the Association’s founding members. Legacy members embody his commitment to a world of longer, healthier lives by saving lives today and ensuring their impact continues for generations to come.